Advanced Wall Systems

Hotbox Test R-value Database

Society of Plastics Industry (SPI)

Introduction

During spring 1997, the Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) built two steel stud walls. These walls were tested in the guarded hot-box under the steady state conditions using ASTM C263 testing procedure. Steady air temperatures (90°F and 50°F) and air velocities were set on both surfaces of the tested wall during the test.

The second wall was similar steel-framed wall (1/2-in. OSB board, R-11 (3-1/2-in.) fiberglass batts, 3-1/2-in. steel studs with 24-in. o.c., 1/2-in. gypsum board) with the Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPUF) installed inside the wall cavity and over the surface of the metal studs.

Thermal conductivity of the foam used in tests was measured in ORNL BTC using ASTM C-518 procedure. Thermal conductivity of the ½-in. thick sample of Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPUF) (one month after installation) was 0.14 Btu-in./hft 2F.